Collapsible ladder



' June 3', 1924., 1,496,044

' G. H. JWILLIS coLLAPsxBLE LADDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 'l'.

Fuga Jan. '141921 .l

INV ENTOR ATTORNEY June 3 ',1924.

G. H. wlLLls coLLAPsIBLE LADDER Filed Jn. 14 1921- 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 liz/2 INV ENTOR ATTORNEY .June 3 1924.

G. H. WILLIS COLLAPS I BLE LADDR AFiled Jan. 14. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 3, 1924.

UNETED STATES GEORGE H. WILLIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE LADDER.

Appiication mea January 14, 1.921. serial No. 437,227.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. VVILLis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of `Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ladders and an object of the invention is to provide a ladder lwhich is foldable longitudinally, and collapsible laterally to permit it to be stored in a relatively small space and also to adapt it to a form convenient for carrying from one place to another or for handling while in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible ladder structure wherein suitable latch means are provided for holding the foldable sections in extended position and also one to which rungs are attached to the side rails of the ladder by pivoting bolts, the latter being attached to the side rails by metal clips to eliminate weakening of the side rails by extending the rung attaching bolts therethrough, and further to provide re-inforcing caps mounted over the ends of the rungs through which the pivotal bolts extend for re-inforcing the members thereby providing a strong durable ladder of relatively great longevity.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a ladder structure, an'auxiliary section for use in connection with one of the hinged sections of the ladder which is longitudinallyextensible and is constructed to permit bracing thereof by the braces of the ladder structure proper, which auxiliary section is adapted to lend the ladder for use on stairways, as either a stairway stepladder or scaffold.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. support-ing base adapted for detachable connection to the side rails or stiles for preventing the accidental slipping of the ladder when in use.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawingv wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front' elevation of the improved ladder.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the improved ladder, showing the hinged sections folded.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the ladder showing the hinged sections supported to provide a stepladder.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the ladder in collapsed position. i

Fig. 5 is a detail of the manner of connecting the rungs to the stiles.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal' section through one 'of the stiles illustrating the `manner of attaching a rung thereto.

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the hinged connection and latch structure embedded in the ladder.

l Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective of the supporting base showing it attached.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the improved associated therewith and positioned for use as a stairway stepladder.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 illusladder having the auxiliary ladder section trating the ladder for use as a stairway l scaffold.

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the auxiliary ladder section.

Referring more particularly lto the drawing the improved ladder comprises the sections 1 and 2 each of which includes stiles 3 and 4 of ordinary construction. Hinged plates 5 areattached'to the meeting ends of each of the Stiles 3 and 4 ofthe ladder sections 1'and 2, and these hinged plates or leaves have -lateral projectionsy 6 formed on their up er inner edges through which the hinged pmtle 7 extends for hinging or pivotally connecting the ladder sections 1 and 2 to permit them to be disposed at oblique angles to each other or in longitudinal alignment with the meeting ends of the Stiles of the sections in engagement to provide an ordinary ladder. The hinging of the ladder sections permits the ladder to be used as a stepladder if desired as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing and when it is thus used, the sections 1 and 2 are held against accidental movement relative to each other by a brace structure 8 which includes bars 9 and 10, one of which is pivoted to each of the ladder sections and each of which is provided with a plurality of vlongitudinally spaced openings 11 for'receiving the attach` ing bolts 12 for connecting the bars 9` and l0. Nuts 13 areprovided upony thebolts 12 for bindingv the brace bars 9 and 10 in engagement and a Suitable lsillointially U .v

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their ends through which the attaching bolts 17 extend. The bolts 17 have relatively large flat heads 18 which are held in binding engagement with .the edges ott-the stiles 3 and Y4:'by metal're-iniorcing clips 19. UThe metal reinlforcing clips 19 extend entirely about the stiles 3 and 4t and are attached thereto by suitable screws'20 and thus no bolts eX- tend through the stiles to weaken them at the points of connection between the rungs 15,and .the stiles 3 and 4t. The bolts 17 pivot-- ally connect the rungs 15 to the respective stiles enabling the stiles to be moved towards each other for laterally collapsing the ladder structure as shown in'Fig. i of the drawing to l.render it easy for handling and storing. When the .ladder is laterally collapse-d the rungs 15 lie parallel and in edgewiser engagement one withthe rung ne-Xt thereto permitting a relatively lnarrow compact structure which maybe easy to handle and which-will occupy aminimum amount of space. For the purpose ot holding the ladder in extended position as shown in Fig. 1 Iprovide diagonally arranged brace rods 21 which are secured at their ends to the stilesbyremovable elements such as screws so that certain elements may be removed when collapsing the ladder.

`.Aleaf spring 25 is carried by each ot the Stiles?) and .4 of the ladder section 2 and is provided with latch lugs 26 adapted to seat in a recess 27 as shown in Fig. 7 ot the drawing to connect the ladder sections 1 and 2 in longitudinal alignment and prevent; accidental pivotal movement ot one section relative tothe other. The ends of the lea't springs 25l adjacent the latch lugs 26 are curved outwardly as shown at28 to facilitate removal of the lugs 26 from the recess 27 when it isdesired to told the ladder sections 1 and 2. llit itis so desired a keeper plateA 291may be mounted upon the stiles of thefsection ljand perforated Vto provide an opening which aligns with the recess 27.

`Aremovable base '30 for the ladder kstructure is lprovided,-which includes sockets 31 adapted to `receive the .lower ends of the Stiles 2-and 3 of the lowersection 1 of the ladder-,and pins 32are chained tothe sockets 31 and `are adapted toextendA through the upstanding portions of 4the sockets and through thelower ends of the Stiles-2 and ftosecurelyconnect the support-ing baseboard 30 tothe ladderk structure to prevent slipping of the ladder and to keep it from tipping when in use.

In Figures 9, 1() and 11 au auxiliary lad der section 4:0 is illustrated which isprovided toperiinit use oit the ladder on steps orstair nays. and in Fig. 9 this auxiliary section is arranged to vpermit use ot the ladder as a stepla'dder on afstairway, while Fig. 10 shows the ladder orn'ied of two auxiliary sections andused Vas a scaffold. The auxiliary section -11-.0 comprisesstiles l1 and 112 to which rungs Ll are connected in the same manner in which the rungs 15 are connected. to the stiles 3 and 4l. The stiles t1 and 4t2 carry hinge plates .4f/t. which are adapted to coact with the hinge plates?) ot either ot theladder sections 1 and 2 to pivotally connect the auxiliary vsectionll() to one of theladder sections `1 or 2. Side rails or bars 46am adjustably connected to the stiles t1 and 42 and are .heldv in adjusted ,positions bythe wing nuts hi7 which are mounted on bolts -18 thatextend through the. bars 46and stiles 41 and 12. Byadjustment of the bars 46 relative to the stiles L1-1gand. 42 the lengt-h of the auxiliaryladder section 10 may be regulated as desired or as is necessary depending uponthe conditions contingentwithfthe use ot the ladder.

The auxiliary ladder vsection 40 is designed to permit the vuse of the ybars 9.and 10 in connection therewith for bracing the ladder structure embodying one ot the sections 1 or 2 and the auXiliarysection 40.

It is, ofcourse, to beunderstood that the invention may` be constructed in .various other manners andthe parts associated in different relations and, therefore, I do not desire to be limited in anymanner except as settorth in the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A ladder comprising stiles, metal clips mounted .about said stiles at spaced distances, rungs, metal caps mounted about the ends of said rungs,-pivoting bolts extending through the metal reinforcing caps, rungs and through one side ot said clips, saidbolts having lrelatively large tlat heads countersunk in the clips. i

2. A ladder comprising stiles, metal clips mounted about said stiles at spaced distances, rungs, metal capsmounted about the ends of said rungs, pivoting bolts extending through the metal reinforcing caps7 rungs and through one side of said clips,l said bolts having relatively large flat heads countersunk in the clips, said ladder compose-d of two hingedly connected sections, and spring locking means for' locking the sections in longitudinal alignment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE WILLIS. 

